How good was Darnold?

I think our offense was simply outsmarted by their defense much of the game, especially in the first half. AJ's ball control issues obviously didn't help, but they were getting through on too many blitzes and managed to keep our top WRs stymied until the 2nd half.

Sam was good, obviously he steps up in pressure situations...but I'd love to start seeing 4 quarters of "New/Good Sam" instead of these crunch time dramas.

You can tell Sam is getting much more comfortable in the system. He's come along ways vs Wk1

Next 5 weeks are where he'll really be able to get other teams excited about giving him his next contract.

One of the feels good stories of the season.

Zanary wrote:
I think our offense was simply outsmarted by their defense much of the game, especially in the first half. AJ's ball control issues obviously didn't help, but they were getting through on too many blitzes and managed to keep our top WRs stymied until the 2nd half.

Sam was good, obviously he steps up in pressure situations...but I'd love to start seeing 4 quarters of "New/Good Sam" instead of these crunch time dramas.

Yeah it felt like every third down, which was usually third and long, Darnold got sacked. Herculean by him to just hold onto the ball on a few of them. ARI Defense was giving him fits and our OL seemed to be having communication and/or talent breakdowns left and right. Arizona pretty much steamrolled us in the first half. But what a comeback! I could barely breathe towards the end but man. That was a lotta fun. I'll be rewatching the 4Q this week for sure.

Gut feeling is that we got outschemed on both sides of the ball and just came in with the wrong gameplan. I just don’t think we had a good answer for the heavier packages Arizona used to run down our throat.

Glad we found a rhythm on offense at the end, and did just enough on defense to keep the score as low as it was until our offense could figure its stuff out.

There was one blitz that was clearly Brandel's fault for not picking it up. But there were plenty of instances of Darnold not identifying where there were extra rushers coming from and getting the ball out quick. One example, the Cardinals had two extra guys on the right side of the line and you can count out they have one more guy than you can block. Addison was in motion to the right, you gotta know that the ball needs to get thrown there quick but instead he looked left to JJ and got demolished from the right.

I don't think he reads defenses well and holds the ball too long at times. We're gonna have to live with it because it's not changing. He still has a tendency to bypass his checkdowns which can lead to some big plays downfield or a big scramble if he can avoid the rush but the offense would function better if we can stay in better down and distances more often.

Despite not playing that well in the first half, he played really well when it mattered and KOC did a nice job of getting the offense in a rhythm those last couple possessions.

He spent too much time in the pocket shuffling around trying to decide where to throw and taking sacks, which put us in a big hole. Then when he was forced to play fast and deliver we were able to make the comeback. It basically takes getting him out of pea-brain mode and into action mode to make him a good qb.

What can you say about Sam, for the first 3 quarters he was the bad Sam then in the 4th, all of a sudden the good Sam shows up. That one throw to Jefferson on the final drive was a laser between two defenders right into the arms of JJ. He is sort of giving us the season Keenum had except this time there is no horseshoe up his ass because Sam is living up to the status that made him the 3rd pick in the draft.

When he first signed I think many gave just a big yawn and wasn't expecting much, but this has been a big enjoyable ride this season and hope it continues. Next up Kirko and the dirty birds. Guard the line to gain because rarely will Kirk try a throw past the sticks on 3rd down.

Everybody keeps saying no, but unless he implodes I’m offering him 2-3 year contract

Bullazin wrote:
Everybody keeps saying no, but unless he implodes I’m offering him 2-3 year contract

I still think JJM offers us more upside and playmaking ability and he's on a rookie QB deal.  That's the beauty of Darnold...  we're paying him well below his production.  If we pay him market rate on a 2-3 yr deal we're right back to where we were with Kirk.  Paying a good, but flawed QB big money and the rest of the roster suffers in the short and long-term unless we draft really well.

I'm confident KOC can get similar production out of JJM at a fraction of the cost and set this team up for a run for years.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

I still think JJM offers us more upside and playmaking ability and he's on a rookie QB deal.  That's the beauty of Darnold...  we're paying him well below his production.  If we pay him market rate on a 2-3 yr deal we're right back to where we were with Kirk.  Paying a good, but flawed QB big money and the rest of the roster suffers in the short and long-term unless we draft really well.

I'm confident KOC can get similar production out of JJM at a fraction of the cost and set this team up for a run for years.

As I've said elsewhere, I think there's about a 20% chance we extend Darnold. Maybe even less than that. But I do think it's a conversation we need to have if he finishes the year strong and has a few more games like the Houston game. I just don't think you screw around with the QB position, no matter how good JJM looked in his one game. Bird in the hand and all that...

But as we've gone over several times, there are so many things that make it seem nearly impossible. The biggest of which is that he'll likely get a 4-year offer from someone and the Vikings would never offer him that with JJM waiting in the wings. We might offer him two years and see if he likes the purple sitch enough to take it. 

I don't really understand the tag and trade thing I keep hearing about, but if we could get him for two years (without a no-trade clause), we could feasibly trade him for some high-end draft capital in year two. But again, he WILL want a no-trade clause. It's problematic but a good problem to have I guess.

I think if we were to resign Darnold, it would only be for a year (unless we go to the super bowl or something). The situation would be like other teams are offering Darnold 3 years $40, and we offer him 1 year $45M to run it back and really maximize his ability to get a better FA deal in 2026.

At some point more money will just trump what we can offer, but you're probably going to get a very similar performance out of JJM and you don't have to sacrifice the rest of the roster to do it.

medaille wrote:
I think if we were to resign Darnold, it would only be for a year (unless we go to the super bowl or something).  The situation would be like other teams are offering Darnold 3 years $40, and we offer him 1 year $45M to run it back and really maximize his ability to get a better FA deal in 2026.

At some point more money will just trump what we can offer, but you're probably going to get a very similar performance out of JJM and you don't have to sacrifice the rest of the roster to do it.

Yeah one year would be ideal but I guess there’s not much chance of that being accepted.  I would offer 1/45 and 2/75 with an no trade and guarantee all of it.  based on the 12 games he’s played that is a pretty big discount. 

This gives JJ 2 more years to learn. He’s still only 3 years into his contract if Sammie takes the deal.  I think one thing we’ve learned through the fudge is that you give your young QB’s every chance to thrive. Their model works, and while we don’t have massive cap to work with it’s a big discount if continuity is attractive to Sammie.

The FO wouldn't be doing it's job if they haven't seriously considered and potentially even already offered Darnold a longer contract. Like, since week 6 or so this should have been on the table I think.

I'm over the moon about McCarthy too and think he'll do well, but would having two good QBs next year be the worst thing? If there's a structure where Sam is signed for multiple years but is a tradable asset if he plays well after Year 1 of his extension, that would be fantastic. If Sam would agree to it. Unfortunately, like MB, I think he'll be the top FA QB available by a wide margin, and someone is going to outbid us by a wide margin.

I know it's crazy but I started to get a strange feeling before the Bears game that this team might have what it takes to go all the way. First time I've felt that way at this point in the season in 15 years. If that happens of course Sam can have all of the money. Every cent. I'll chip in.

medaille wrote:
I think if we were to resign Darnold, it would only be for a year (unless we go to the super bowl or something).  The situation would be like other teams are offering Darnold 3 years $40, and we offer him 1 year $45M to run it back and really maximize his ability to get a better FA deal in 2026.

At some point more money will just trump what we can offer, but you're probably going to get a very similar performance out of JJM and you don't have to sacrifice the rest of the roster to do it.

Probably....probably. That's the kicker.

MaroonBells wrote:

Probably....probably. That's the kicker.

Probably was the kicker with Darnold too before the season started and we've seen how that has turned out.  I actually don't have much anxiety about JJM being the starter next year.  I think the kid is in good hands with KOC and this supporting cast.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
There was one blitz that was clearly Brandel's fault for not picking it up.  But there were plenty of instances of Darnold not identifying where there were extra rushers coming from and getting the ball out quick.  One example, the Cardinals had two extra guys on the right side of the line and you can count out they have one more guy than you can block.  Addison was in motion to the right, you gotta know that the ball needs to get thrown there quick but instead he looked left to JJ and got demolished from the right.

I don't think he reads defenses well and holds the ball too long at times.  We're gonna have to live with it because it's not changing.  He still has a tendency to bypass his checkdowns which can lead to some big plays downfield or a big scramble if he can avoid the rush but the offense would function better if we can stay in better down and distances more often.

Despite not playing that well in the first half, he played really well when it mattered and KOC did a nice job of getting the offense in a rhythm those last couple possessions.

Brandel didn't cause the sack or miss his assignment, it was Bradbury. 

Here's the video of the sack.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Probably was the kicker with Darnold too before the season started and we've seen how that has turned out.  I actually don't have much anxiety about JJM being the starter next year.  I think the kid is in good hands with KOC and this supporting cast.

I'm more in the camp of "probably" makes me nervous...It's PTSD from being a fan since Tarkenton. 

But there was probably more questions about Darnold vs if I comp those for Darnold to JJM today. 

I'll trust KOC to make the right reco to Kwesi/Wilfs and then coach up whomever is QB1.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Probably was the kicker with Darnold too before the season started and we've seen how that has turned out.  I actually don't have much anxiety about JJM being the starter next year.  I think the kid is in good hands with KOC and this supporting cast.

Really? Who are all these people who were saying that Darnold was "probably" going to be good?

MaroonBells wrote:

Really? Who are all these people who were saying that Darnold was "probably" going to be good?

Literally only @"FLVike" hah. Pretty sure it was him who said he thought Darnold would be comparable to Kirk. I thought he was nuts at the time, shows what I know.

pattersaur wrote:

Literally only @"FLVike" hah. Pretty sure it was him who said he thought Darnold would be comparable to Kirk. I thought he was nuts at the time, shows what I know.

Yep, FLV was convinced Darnold would be better than Cousins. He was the only one I can recall. Hell, I just said he'd have his best year as a pro—which was a bit like predicting the sun will come up tomorrow—but even that drew some ridicule...from those who were somehow unaware just how low that bar was. 

Specifically, I predicted 3800 yards, 28 TDs and 14 INTs. He's on pace to blow that out of the water. What's really remarkable to me is the fact that he's only had two games, 2 in 12, where his passer rating dropped below 100. No QB in the NFL can say that. Not Jackson, not Goff, not Burrow, not Allen.